A cricketer whose former team-mate allegedly raped a sleeping woman has told jurors the accused is still his best friend.

Former Worcestershire CCC batsman Joe Clarke, who now plays for Nottinghamshire, told a court he had consensual sex with the woman before leaving her in a bedroom to be sick in a bathroom, where he fell asleep.

Mr Clarke, who was arrested but not charged with any offence, told Worcester Crown Court that the next thing he remembered was the woman waking him and claiming she had been raped by his friend Alex Hepburn.

Hepburn, an all-rounder with Worcestershire, denies rape, claiming the woman opened her eyes and kissed him at the start of a 20-minute sexual encounter.

The woman, who cannot be identified, broke down in the witness box on Tuesday after being cross-examined about details of the alleged attack.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Clarke, who joined Nottinghamshire in September 2018 on a four-year deal, claimed the woman contacted him about four months after the incident and told him she wanted to drop the case.

Alex Hepburn arrives at Worcester Crown Court (Image: SWNS)

Recalling the night of the alleged rape in April 2017, Mr Clarke told a jury of eight women and four men that he left the bedroom of his Worcester flat to be sick after drinking Guinness, vodka and other spirits during a night out.

"I didn't want to be sick in front of her so I went to the bathroom," the 22-year-old told the court.

Mr Clarke said the next thing he was aware of was the woman waking him up and saying: "Your housemate has just slept with me. Alex has raped me."